Pencil



C. R. KEERAN.

PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1920-.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEABLES 3.1mm, 0E GHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOPOIN'I PENCIL COI-PANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01 ILLINOIS.

PENCIL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d Mj 2 2 1921 Continuation ofapplication Serial No. 291,494, filed April 21, 18 19. This application,filed November 18,

1980. Serial No. 485,085.

5 IlllllOlS, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPencils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pencil equipped with propelling mechanisminteriorl of its body, and operable by meansexteriorly thereof, foradvancing into operative position a lead at one end, and an eraser atthe other end. v

For its objects, my invention aims to provide an improved and simplifiedlead propellin mec anism; to use the same mechanism ior propellin aneraser; to accommodate in the cool body a relatively long lead; toprovide a ma azine of ample ca- 0 paoity for reserve lea s; to devise acombined lead and eraser ropellin mechanism capable of 118%,Wli3l011t moiiication, with pencils either of the magazine or non-magazine types;and, generally, to strengthen the construction, reduce the number ofparts and arrange them in a more compact relation, and cheapen the costof manufacture of the pencil.

- The general construction of the present pencil is similar to the onesdisclosed in my pending applications, Serial Nos. 213,241 and 272,054,and, to some extent,this application is concerned with suh'eot matterdivided out of the former. his invention, however, exhibits certaindistinct improve -ments over my previous constructions, particularly asto details of manufacturin and assembling, It is to be understood, tlorefore, that the-pencil to be herein described embodies many of thefeatures claimed in my co-pcnding applications aforesaid as well ascertain other" improvements which will be hereinafter desorlbed andclaimed. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, whereinare shown certain exomplifications of this invention, as follows:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pencil having a solidbody,- as distinguished from one which is formed with a hollow tubularbody, the operating parts being shown in elevation;

2 is a similar view through a pencil hav n a hollow tubular body, theoperating parts lng shown mostly in section;

Fig. is an enlarged detail, in ion itudinal section, exhibitin thepartsin t e upper end of the panel the propelling pluner being shown asretracted close to as lines 6--6 of and lines 7--7, 8-8, ELIILi Q- -Q ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a etail-illustrating a modified form of connection betweenthe plunger and eraser late.

In t e use presentl to be made of the terms upper and .ower, it shouldbe understoodthat I am referring to the encil as 1t ispointed inuse,that is, wit the eraser end up, and the writing end down. It may bestated at the outset that the body oi" the pencil may be' of metal,wood,

or any other material suitable for the pur pose. Certain of the Jresentimprovements are especially adapted to pencils in which wood, fiber, orsome other appropriate substance is used for the makin of a relativelysolid body, as distinguished from tubular bodies which are gcniirallymade of metal. As, illustrative oi a desirable construction. I haveshown in Fig. 1 a pencil whose body plunger 11 may be regarded as formedof woe fiber, or some analogous material, and provided with a centralbore adapted to receive a tube 1% extending for the major portion of thebody, propelling mechanism being housed within the tube. At its lowerextrcmity the tube may be reduced as at 13 so as to pass through aferrule 14 to connect with a tip 15, to which it is secured in anyconvenient manner. As shown in Fig.1, the walls of the ferrule aretapered in conformity with the tapered lower end of the pencil andwith'the sides of the tip as well, the surfaces of these three partsbeing preferably arranged in flush relation so. as to present asmooth-and neat appearance. According to this, construction, the ferruleoverlies the lower end of the pencil body and affords an abutment forthe larger end of the tip which may take on the form of 'a' truncatedcone. A bore is formed within the tip 16 (see Fig. 5 for this feature)to provide a passage of proper size to frictionally engage the leadbeing used in the pencil.

The tube 12 which is arranged centrally within the pencil body isnon-rotatably secured therein by a friction fit or otherwise. Throughoutits lower portion the tube is provided with internal ribs 17, preferablyin the form of flutings, which may terminate as at 18 just short of theshoulder 19 (see Fig. 5) that results from reducing the tube end to formits lower extremity 13. These flutings may conveniently be formed by theuse of appropriate rollers, or by the action of a die, the purpose beingto deform the tube walls sufficiently to provide internal ribs extendinglongitudinally thereof, it being preferred that the ends of theseflutings should merge into the body of the tube in such a manner as topresent beveled or rounded surfaces. A threaded plunger 20 is arrangedcentrally within the tube, having a lateral fin 21.projecting betweentwo of the fiutings, the relation of the parts being such that theseveral fiutings act to guide the plunger in longitudinal movements, butprevent its rotation, within the pencil body. The beveled or roundedends of the fiutings are intended to facilitate movement of the plungerand its fin into correct operative relation within the tube. When theplunger has traveled to its lowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 5,the fin 21 will abut the shoulder 19 at the reduced end of the tube, andbe clear of all the flutings therein; it may then, and then only, befreely rotated within the tube.

As already stated, the tube 12 is im'movably arranged within the pencilbody. The ferrule abutting the tip and overlying the lower end of thebody acts to hold the tube in correct position relative to the pencil atthat end. At its other end,'however, I secure the tube in place by meansof a cap 22 which is placed over the upper end of the body with itssides offset, as shown, to provide an upper part that is externallythreaded to receive-in fiush relation with the body a collar 23; the'lower portion 24 of the sides of the cap, by reference, lies flush withthe collar, and wit the body as well, which is suitably recessed forthis purpose. The upper side of the cap is centrally apertured toreceive the upper extremity of the tube 12 whose end may be convenientlyupset or hammered down as at 25 to overlie the cap. Through the mediumof the ferrule and tip which is suitably constricted as at at the lowerend and the cap at the other end, the tube is firmly secured againstlongitudinal movement within the body.

The pencil, as exhibited in Fig. 1, is characterized by one feature ofimportance which :is novel, as far as I am aware, in a pencil having asolid body, that is, a body formed of wood, fiber, or other materialsuitable for producing a 'non-shell-like structurethis being a magazinefor reserve leads. To embody this in the present pencil I have arrangedin the body a number of slots 26 extending downwardly from the upper endthereof as far as desired, preferab y to a pointnear the lower end, soas to provide chambers each of sufficient length to receive two leads,end to end. In the drawing, these slots are represented as four innumber, and are cut in radial fashion from the central opening thatreceives the tube 12. When the tube is fitted into the pencil, theseslots become closed on all four sides, as viewed in cross section (seeFig. 9), and when the cap 22 is arranged in place the upper ends ofthese slots are likewise closed, in part at least. Access to thechambers of the magazine is obtained through a suitable opening formedin the top side of the cap. which, in the form shown, has a centralcircular portion occu ied by the tube and four slotted portions 2radiating therefrom, each in register withone of the slots 26. Such anopening, best shown in Fig. 7, presents four holes permitting leads topass in or out of the four magazine chambers, as required, the collar23, together with its associated parts, acting normally to prevent lossof these reserve leads in case the pencil should be inverted.

In arranging the threaded connection between the collar and cap it isimportant that these parts last mentioned should not be permitted toturn together. To prevent this, slits 28 may be arranged in the upperend of the bed in line with grooves 28- formed interiory of the cap (seeFig. 8). keys 29 of suitable formation being extended radially withinthe grooves to lock with the cap so as to prevent its rotation relativeto the body. In practice the formation and assembly of the parts in thismanner may be very expeditiously accomplished, and on this account thisconstruction possesses special advantages.

Referring again to the collar 23 which is threaded to the cap 22, itwill be noted that I have inturned its upper end to provide a flange 30which affords on its upper surface a bearing for a sleeve 31 which actsas a retainer for an eraser 32. At its upper end the sleeve is providedwith a flange 33 which grips .the eraser, and interiorly is formed withthreads 34 which, by preference, are square-cut in cross section, asclearly appears in Figs. 3 and 4. The lower end of ampere Y the sleeveis formedwith a wall in abut ting relation to the flange 30 of thecollar 23, an opening bein formed therein for renewing the enlar edupper end of a sleeve of other features certain modifications,

presently to be described, are exhibited. The sleeve 36 extends withinthe tube 12 and is internally threaded as at 38 (see Fig. 2) tocoiiperate with the threads of the plunger 20 so as to transform thesleeve rotary movements into longitudinal movements of the plunger.

As a means of connection between the collar 23 and the eraser sleeve,two sug ested constructions are shown. In Fig. the end wall 35 of thesleeve is formed with a de pending thimble 39 having a shoulder as at 40adapted to on age with the inturned flange 30 of the col ar 23, and alsoto afiord a rest against which may seat a washer all which may be convenentl secured in place by upsettin or sprea ing the lower end of the thiml8 as at 42 in under lying relation to the washer. According to theconstruction shown, the eraser sleeve is non removably secured to thecollar 23 but is free to rotate thereon so as to im art turningmovements to the sleeve 36. nether forin of connection between theeraser sleeve and collar 23 is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the end wall 35does not directly en age the sleeve 36, but cooperates instead with abushing 43 whose upper end 44 may be upset or spread over as shown, andwhich is formed with a shoulder 45 affording a rest for a washer 46which underlies the flange 30 of the collar 23, the washer being held inplace by an upset 47 at the lower end of the bushing. The effect of theconnection shown in Fig. 4.15 precisely the same as in Fig. 3 and neednot be further dwelt upon. y

In the connection between the eraser sleeve and collar 23, whetherformed as e1 Fig. 3 or per Fi 4., I employ an assemlily which is simple,dependable, and readil at tachable as a unit to the upper end 0 thepencil; it assures .at all times an operative connection with the sleeve'36 by which the lead propelling mechanism is actuated. These parts theeraser sleeve and its associated, collar c'onstitute what may betermedthe head of the pencil, which with the sleeve 36, and lunger 20therein, may be freely removed rom the body whenever refilling isrequired. a I

A threaded plate 48 is arranged within tlie eraser sleeve having aconnection therewith eraser. up sufficiently to require re lacement, theworn down piece 15 remove and a screw' that is relatively loose, thisbeing accomplished conveniently by formin threads on the plate having a's i-g t lon itudinal play'within the eraser sleeve. The upper side ofthe plate, which may be slotted as at 4:9, lies in abutting relation tothe eraser so as to force it outwardlywhenever the plate is turnedrelative to the eraser sleeve. Iprefer that the under side of the plateshou d be provided with a hollow boss 50 interiorly threaded to receivethe upper .end of the plun r 20 whenever it is re tracted suliicient yfor this purpose. To facilitate re 'ister of the plunger threads withthose within the boss 50, the plate 48 is arranged for sli ht play, asalready explained, but supp ementary to this, or inde' pendentlythereof, other means for the same purpose may be employed such as theformation of elite 51 extending upwardly from the lower end of the bossto provide sections which may be sprung-outwardly as required topermit'the lunger end to move across the boss threa s until a re'stration is effected therewith. Preferab y the depth of the bossthreads is reducedtoward its lower end to facilitate such movement ofthe plunr prior to registration'of its threads with t ose interiorlof'the boss. v, y a

After three ing the lunger end into the boss, the parts may beurtherrotated, with the result thatlthe plate being-locked non rotatablyto the plunger, both of these parts are movcclupwardly to force out'theeraser. This rotativc movement may be continued as far as necessary toadvance the eraser the distance desired, whereupon the parts should bercversely rotated to disengage the plunger from the plate. This engagingaction of the plunger relative to the plate is facilitated by the loosethreaded connection between the plate and the eraser sleeve, whichresults in a minimum of friction between these parts, and tendsaccordingly to induce disenga ment therebctween rather than between t cplun cr end and the late; or if pressure he applied to the end 0 theeraser so asto develop a friction between the threads of the erasersleeve and plate which exceeds that obtaining between the plateandpli1nger,the eraser sleeve may be then rotated so as to uare-cut as Ypropel the plunger downwardly, this latter element tending to disengage?itself freely from the plate, and leaving t e plate in a vanced heneverthe eraser has been used ready described, as will be apparent by ratosition, to properly support the its erence to Fig. wherein these twoparts,

, detached from the associated mechanis'm,,are

shown in detail.

erence. other than round, and the proximate end 54,of the plunger towhich the numeral turned, thisaction resulting in a propulsion nectionwith the remaining figures.

55 ,isapplied is formed in a manner to cooperate therewith, the purposebeing that these parts-the plate and plan r-shall engaged. In all otherrespects these parts may be constructed and .operated as pre-- viouslydescribed. In theformv shown m Fig. -l0, the-plunger, when retractedsufliciently, will direct its end 54 into the socket 53 so asto locktherewithin to hold the plate 52 against I rotation when the sleeve 31is of the eraser. This alternative construction shown in Fig. 10 istypical of. several that might be resorted to where it is not desired touse a threaded connection, such as is shown in Figs. 3.and 4.

The means for propelling the eraser in each of the constructionsdescribed makes use of the plunger which acts also to propel the lead.Reference-to Figs. 3 and t will disclose the provision upon the upperside of the plate 48 of a plurality of fine projecting points 56 adaptedto bite into the bottom end of the eraser so as to lock the erasernon-rotatably to the plate. By use of such aconnection, the eraser maybe propelled in either; direction simply by applying pressure. toitsupper end such as to hold stationary the eraser and plate 4.8 while .aturning}.movement is imparted to the sleeveg3l, ion by holding thissleeve 31' stationarywhile bearing down upon the eraserhend with arotary. movement, the effect in either. case being to induce relativerotation between the sleevetand plate therewithin Such eraser propellingmovements, it should be noted, may be effected with entire independenceof the plunger. p The preceding description has been concerned in largepart with a pencil having a relatively solid body, as distinguished froma hollow tubular body such as is generally formed ofmetal. Thisinvention is applicable, however, to a pencil having a tubular body suchas is exhibited in Fig. 2, in which the operating parts are in allrespects the same as those dBSCHbGd in 0211- ccordingly the samereference numerals have been applied to the corresponding parts,

and it is unnecessary to specifically advert to them again.

Referring now to the construction shown in Fig. 2, the body, designatedas 60, is tubular in form, being provided. with a tapered lower end 61having at its extremity a tip 62 which may conveniently be con- In thisconstruction the plate designated as 52 isprovided on,1ts underside witha socket 53, shapedby pref-i nectedto the tube 12'within the body. Inthe construction shown, the shoulder on the upper end of the tipabuts'the lower extremity of the pencil so as to prevent an up wardmovement of the tube therewithin. In the region where the tapercommences, I have arranged a brace plate 63 which affords .a-bottom forthe magazine of the pencil which, by preference, is divided into fourcompartments (see Fig. 6) through the use of partition members eachdesignated by the numeral 64. Each of these partition members mayconsist of radially disposed Walls 65 connected by an arc-shaped wall 66extending from near the upper end of the pencil down to the brace plate63. In practice, I prefer to form these partition members of somematerial that is light, thin, and slightly resilient, such as aluminum,so that they may be sprung into place and be held firmly therein againstmovement bytheir own spring action.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the upper ends of the reserve leads, designatedas 67, as protruding through the cap that is secured to the upper end ofthe body. This result is attained by having the chambers of the magazineof proper depth to project the topmost leads into position where theymay be grasped whenever the head is removed from the pencil. It shouldbe noted in this connection that the collar 23 forming part of the headis arranged to provide a chamber above the cap such that the reserveleads may protrude from the body end and receive protection at the sametime.

In connection With the present pencil, whether made of wood, metal, orother material, I have devised a pocket clip which is exceedingly simplein its construction and in the manner of its attachment to the pencilbody. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the clip designated as 70is of the conventional form, being curved toward the pencil at its upperend as at 71, from which extends in nearly right angular relationthereto a tongue 72 which lies inside of the lower portion 24 of the cap(see Fig. 8). The cap and body may each be suitably recessed toaccommodate the tongue in the manner described, the recess 'in the bodyterminating in a sort of shoulder 73 which cooperates with the lower endof the tongue to hold the clip from moving downwardly. It will be notedthat at the upper end of the tongue is a head 74 adapted to lie withinan annular chamber formed interiorly of the cap, this channelfacilitating the punching of the recess for the tongue and the twogrooves 28 By preference the tongue 72 In use of the pencil, the head,together with the sleeve 36 and plunger 20, are re moved from the pencilwhenever new leads are required. After inserting a lead of proper lengthinto the upper end of the tube 12, the parts are replaced so as tobecome operative for propelling the lead. It will be noted that the leadinserted into the tube tends to drop through to the lower end of thepencil where it is held by friction in the constricted, passage throughthe tip. In replacing ,the head upon the pencil, the plunger should,course, be guided into the tube, after which its fin 21 is automaticallydirected intoone of the longitudinal slots therein'formed between two ofthe flutings 17. By rotating the head the plunger may be advanced topropel the lead; when ad vanced to its limit the plunger -fin lieswithin the clearance below the flutings, permitting the plunger torevolve with the head. This action is desirable in that it affords anindication of conditions interiorly of the pencil, and is preferable.tothe usual construction in which the parts bind when their limit ofmovement has been reached. To retract the plun er again, the head may beremoved from t e pencil which is then inverted, this operation causingthe plunger to slide out; access in the magazine is afforded at the sametime enabling the user to refill the pencil in themanner explained.

I claim; 1. A pencil having means within its body for propelling a lead,actuatingmeans therefor, includin a collar detachably secured to thebody and a sleeve adjacent to the collar operatively connected with thepropelling means within the. pencil, and means independent of' theconnection with the propelling means for locking the sleeve to thecollar to establish a freely rotatable but inseparable connectiontherebetween, substantiallyas described. I

2. A pencil having means within its body for propelling a lead, andactuating means therefor consisting of a collar and sleeve ar ranged endto end, the former stationary and the latter rotatable with respect tothe body, and means providing a freely rotatable and inseparableconnection between the collar and sleeve invisible when the parts areassembled upon the pencil,- the sleeve being operatively connected tothe lead propelling means, and the collar being detachably secured tothe'pencil body, substantially as described. I p I 3. A pencil havingmeans within its body for propelling a lead, and actuating meanstherefor including a collar and sleeve ar ranged end to end, the formerstationary and the latter rotatable with res and an inseparable but freey rotatable con-- nection between the collar and sleeve consisting of anend wall on each,one being t to the body,

4. A pencil having means within its body for propelling a lead, andactuating means,

therefor including a collar detachably' secured to the body and a sleeverotatably secured thereto having connection with the lead propellingmeans, and aconnection between thecollar and sleeve consisting of an endwall on each, one having a central aperture and the other being formedwith a thimble extended through the aperture and provided with ashoulder, and a washer adjacent the collar wall on its side remote fromthe sleeve and resting against the shoulder, the thimble end being upsetupon the washer to secure the parts permanently together in a freelyrotatable relation, substantially as described.

5. A pencilhaving means within its body for propelling a lead, the bodybeing hollowed. to provide a magazine for reserve leads in the form of ac amber open upon one end of the body, the chamber being adapted toreceive the major portion of a reserve lead whose end remains protrudedbeyond the body, and actuating means for the lead propelling meansarranged exteriorly of that same end of the body, and means fordetachably securing the actuating means in place, there being withinsaid securing means an extension chamber within which the protruding endof the reserve lead may lie, substantially as described. 6;. A pencilhaving means within its body for propelling a lead, and exteriorly ofits 'first of which. is threaded and the second of which is-tubular withits walls deformed to provide flutings longitudinally thereof, and athird part having a threaded engagement with the first part and arrangedfor travel longitudinally of both parts, the third part having anelement projecting laterall be? tween the flutings of the second part,all

ere-

by rotation of the first part induces a nonrotatable travel of the thirdpart, substantially as described.

8. Ina pencil, lead propelling mechanism including two relativelyrotatable tubular parts, one interiorly threaded and telescoped withinthe other whose walls are deformed to provide a longitudinal fiuting,and a third part adapted, for longitudinal travel having means forengaging with the threads of the one and for cooperating with thefiuting of the other whereby relative rotation between these latter twoparts induces a longitudinal travel of the third part, substantially asdescribed.

9. A pencil having in its body lead propelling mechanism including incombina tion a non-rotatable tube Whose walls are formed to providelongitudinal flutings internally thereof, a plunger arranged forlongitudinal travel within the tube to propel a lead in advance ofitself, means extending to the exterior 01 the pencilbody mounted forrotation within the tube and having a threaded connection with theplunger therein, and a member on the plunger adapted to lie betweencertain of the flutings to hold the plunger against rotation during itspropul- 'sionthrough the tube, substantially as described.

10. In a pencil, lead propelling mechanism including two relativelyrotatable tubular parts, onehaving its walls deformed for a portion ofits length to a cross-sectional form other than round, and the otherbeing interiorly threaded and telescoped within the undeformed portionof the first part, and a third part adapted for longitudinal travelwithin both parts having means for engaging with the threads of the oneand having means for cooperating with the walls of the other to opposerotation relative thereto whereby relative rotation between the firsttwo parts induces a longitudinal travel of the third part, substantiallyas described.

CHARLES R. KEERAN.

Witness:

EPHRIAM SHUNING.

